3 min readMinister of State for Women’s Affairs, Dr. Ahd Mohammed Jaasous, affirmed that restoring daily life in Yemen after the conflict requires a comprehensive vision that goes beyond ending the war to building peace, strengthening institutions, and empowering communities. She emphasized the importance of three key tracks: responsive and capable local institutions that address citizens’ needs, meaningful women’s participation in decision-making, and responsible media that supports peace and recovery.
In remarks delivered during the “International Peace for Women” press conference, which hosted the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) in Chungju, South Korea, under the theme “Restoring Daily Life After Conflict: Local Governance and Women’s Leadership in Yemen,” Dr. Jaasous said that true peace should not be measured solely by what happens at negotiation tables, but by what citizens experience in their daily lives, including the reopening of schools and health facilities, improved infrastructure, increased employment opportunities, and a greater sense of security.
She noted that Yemeni women, despite being among the groups most affected by the war, have also been among the most important forces in sustaining daily life by caring for their families, educating their children, coping with displacement and poverty, and helping address community challenges.
Dr. Jaasous stressed that the next phase requires moving away from viewing women solely as victims of conflict and recognizing them instead as essential partners in peacebuilding, recovery, and the rebuilding of society. She called for greater representation of women in local councils, service institutions, mediation and conflict-resolution processes, and reconstruction planning.
She emphasized that women’s participation must be meaningful rather than symbolic, enabling them to influence decision-making, alongside ensuring access to education, training, economic empowerment, and legal and community protection.
Regarding the third track, the Minister of State for Women’s Affairs called on the media to play a greater role in supporting peace and recovery and to avoid reducing Yemen’s image to war and crises. She stressed the importance of highlighting the stories of women, youth, and local initiatives that contribute to social cohesion and help build a more stable future.
She added that the media can contribute to addressing hate speech, incitement, and division; providing space for the voices of women and youth; monitoring the recovery process; and communicating the needs of local communities and stories of success.
She concluded by stressing that the desired peace in Yemen does not simply mean an end to fighting, but rather building a reality in which children can attend school, patients can access hospitals, families can live in safety, women can participate in decision-making, and young people can see their future in their homeland.
